4 - 7 września 2025
Cervia
Salt Festival
The Salt Festival takes place every year in September.
It is a very significant event for me, because it evokes an important part of my past: the remittance of salt.
At the end of the tiring season of harvesting the white gold, which ended in September, my salt workers would load the salt aboard burchielle, the typical flat-bottomed boats, and transport it along my Porto Canale to the Magazzini for inspection and storage.
Today, this tradition is still repeated as a symbol of my unbreakable bond with the more than 800 hectares of salt pans.
It is a moment of great joy, evoking the festive atmosphere of those days. It is a special occasion to witness this tradition, to discover ancient crafts, also through conferences and exhibitions, and to taste typical local sweet salt products. In short, a festival to be experienced with all five senses!
Moreover, once the salt arrives in front of the warehouses, it is given away as a wish for good luck and prosperity. If you are lucky, you can go home with a bag of the precious white gold, a Slow Food presidium.
Program
Upcoming
Program 2024
Thursday 5 September
Tower Salt Warehouse
5.00 p.m.
Grazia Deledda between the sea and the salt marsh
Presentation of the book ‘Grazia Deledda in Cervia. Voices from the sea and the wind’ - Longo editore, with editor Marisa Ostolani and the authors, poems in Romagna dialect by Annalisa Teodorani and Deleddian readings by Annalisa Santini.
Exhibition of photos by Michela Mazzoli and Giovanna Sarti. In collaboration with the Grazia Deledda Association, a Nobel in Cervia
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in collaboration with the Romagna wine consortium
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.15 p.m.
Tasting of Bufala Campana mozzarella with sweet Cervia salt
of the Don Peppe Diana Cooperative. Even with taste you can defeat the mafias, with Libera Terra products.
Places are limited and must be booked in advance at 339 4703606
Porto Canale and Piazzale dei Salinari
7.00 p.m.
Official opening of the Festival with the historic boat I Tre Fratelli, and the story of the traditional Salt Festival, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the mayor Mattia Missiroli
Tower Salt Warehouse
7.15 p.m.
Preview of the Cervia Sweet Salt Panettone
Presentation and preview tasting of the Christmas Panettone al Sale Dolce di Cervia, by Pasticceria Flamigni for the Parco della Salina di Cervia. Conducted by Letizia Magnani, communication manager of the Cervia Saltpan Park. Speakers: Camillo Serena, Flamigni sales manager, Mirko Boschetti councillor for Productive Activities Cervia, Giuseppe Pomicetti president of the Cervia Saltpan Park
Limited places upon booking at 339 4703606
Acervum
7.30 pm
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the saltpan: cocktails, beer and Sweet Salt of Cervia chopping boards
Officine del Sale
8.45 p.m.
Inaugural dinner with Romagna meeting Sardinian cuisine
Preparations by ‘CheftoChef’ and Dimitri Contessi, chef of the Officine del Sale restaurant. In collaboration with Cheftochef
Booking required tel: 0544 976565 - 393 8241077
Tower Salt Warehouse
9.00 p.m.
Acquadulcis
Inauguration of the photographic exhibition Aquadulcis, the finalist photographic project of the Portfolio Italia 2024 award. Curated by Luana Viaggi
Friday 6 September
Tower Salt Warehouse
10.15 a.m.
Scholarship to the two best students of Cervia's ‘Tonino Guerra’ Hotelier Institute, awarded by the Salt Civilisation Group
Tower Salt Warehouse
10.30 a.m.
Agriculture cultivates salt
Presentation of the project to promote salt farming. Organised by Confagricoltura in collaboration with the Cervia Saltpan Park
Tower Salt Warehouse
5.00 p.m.
Delta Park: salt and marinated fish have allied themselves
A convivial reflection to make peace with the sea and nature. Led by Barbara Monti, president of Slow Food Ravenna. With Massimiliano Costa, Director of the Po Delta Park and Francesco Martina, Slow Food Ferrara. In collaboration with Po Delta Park. Followed by fish tastings from the Manifattura dei Marinati of Comacchio.
Places are limited and must be booked in advance on 339 4703606
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in cooperation with the Romagna wine consortium
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.30 p.m.
From Nuoro to Cervia the Deleddian Menus. From writing to the table with a Deleddian dinner.
At the Cervia Salt Festival, the Menu Deleddiani association is the voice of Sardinia and Grazia Deledda, the only Italian woman to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. In addition to being an extraordinary writer and narrator of immortal stories, Grazia Deledda left a legacy of great importance. The Menù Deleddiano (Deledda's Menu) project aims to enhance, promote, and disseminate those precious contents enshrined in her texts, becoming an interpreter of points of view on everyday life and healthy existence, with a focus on good food. And Cervia is certainly the ideal place because the writer chose it for her summers, where she bought her home, Villa Caravella, the ‘biscuit-coloured house’, her beloved Cervia refuge. This is followed by a presentation with workshop, show cooking and tasting of Deleddian dishes prepared by the association, such as Filindeu, suckling pig, sheep and other Sardinian dishes. Vincenzo Palimodde, Tonina Biscu and Vitalia Scano of the Menu Deleddiani association will lead the meeting. The event is also being held in collaboration with the Associazione Grazia Deledda, a Nobel Prize winner in Cervia.
Limited places € 65 per person, including book, dinner and drinks. Reservations required. 339 4703606
Acervum
7.30 p.m.
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the salt marsh: cocktails, beer and Sweet Salt of Cervia boards, accompanied by Santero's solidarity bubbles
Rubicon Hall
8.45 p.m.
La Cavèda de Sèl
Inauguration of the photographic exhibition La Cavèda de Sèl, dedicated to the harvesting of salt and everything that surrounds the saltpan.
Saturday 7 September
Piazzale dei Salinari
8.00 a.m.
‘Romagna Solatia, sweet country...’
Departure from Cervia of the bicycle relay race in collaboration with Divina CicloStorica Fiab Ravenna, with a load of salt as far as Bologna, taking up the ancient route of the salt wokers who brought salt to the butchers of Bologna as early as 1242. Arrival in Bologna on the day dedicated to ‘Romagna Solatia’ with Il Mercato Ritrovato del mondo contadino held at the Cineteca di Bologna. Here, the presentation of the Camillone Saltworks and the Slow Food Presidium Salt takes place.
Cervia Spa
3.00 p.m.
Guided tour and cocktail at the Sweet Salt of Cervia
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 3.00 p.m.
Postal cancellation for the Armesa de Sel
Canal Harbour and Piazzale dei Salinari quay
from 4.30 p.m.
‘Armesa de Sel’
Traditional historical re-enactment of the Salt Storehouse with the arrival of the Burchiella from the salt pans and the ritual distribution of salt to the public.
Tower Salt Warehouse
5.00 p.m.
The BIO Capers of Mezzano meet the Sweet Salt, new products for tasting. Participants: Alberto Allegri producer of the Organic Caper of Mezzano, Giuseppe Pomicetti President of Parco della Salina di Cervia S.r.l., Gianni Grandu Deputy Mayor of Cervia, conducted by Letizia Magnani Communication Manager Salina di Cervia
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in cooperation with the Romagna wine consortium
Tower Salt Warehouser
6.30 p.m.
Trapani: salt pans, tuna in oil and the decomposed Sicilian cannolo
Prepared by chef Paolo Pecorella. Conducted by Giuseppe Carpinteri president of the Associazione Salviamo i Mulini di Trapani
Places are limited. Reservations required 339 4703606
Tower Salt Warehouse
7.30 p.m.
The Salt Pans of Sardinia of Sant'Antioco and Contivecchi of Cagliari
Presented by Raimondo Mandis, President of Slow Food Cagliari. Followed by tastings of Sardinian products made with salt from the salt pans of their territories
Acervum
7.30 p.m.
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the salt marsh: cocktails, beer and Sweet Salt of Cervia chopping boards, accompanied by Santero's solidarity bubbles.
Piazza Garraldi
9.00 p.m.
‘Fire to the Myth’
The traditional cooking of a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese live, in collaboration with the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium
Sunday 8 September
10.30 a.m.
Heritage walk. Organised by Associazione Festa
11.00 a.m.
From Bologna to Cervia Piazzale dei Salinari
The Società di Mutuo Soccorso tra Salsamentari di Bologna, one of the oldest associations in Italy that brings together the city's most important gastronomic realities, symbolically brings the products of the Tagliere dei Salsamentari to Cervia, first and foremost mortadella, along the Via del Sale (Salt Road), to spend a day at the Cervia Festival welcoming Bologna ‘La Grassa’, the cradle of good food and good taste with the products of Petronian culinary tradition. Loris Marcheselli's Food Truk ‘Bar Stellino’ offers four products from the Tagliere dei Salsamentari (DE.CO): mortadella, tigella, squacquerone and friggione.
Canal Harbour and Piazzale dei Salinari quay
from 3.30 p.m.
‘Armesa de Sel’
Replica of the traditional historical re-enactment of the Rimessa del Sale (salt warehouse) with the ritual distribution of salt to the public.
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Gastronomic Workshops dedicated to Bolognese Gastronomy
5.00 p.m. - I Tortellini della Ristoassociation Tour-tlen di Bologna, in Brodo (DECO). Conducted by Lucia Antonelli ‘the Queen of Tortellini’.
6.15 p.m. - Tagliatelle and the real Bolognese ragù (DE.CO) with the association Gli Apostoli della Tagliatella di Bologna. Led by Lucia Antonelli with a representative of the Apostles of Tagliatella from Bologna
7.30 p.m. - Meeting with Bologna Mortadella man Davide Simoni President of Mutua Salsamentari 1876 and famous charcuterie maker in the Bologna quadrilateral who introduces us to the world of Mortadella with an unmissable lesson. The three workshops will be accompanied by wines from the Consorzio Vini Colli Bolognesi. Some of the Consorzio's cellars will be present all day with tables for wine tasting and sale.
Limited places, max 30 people. Each tasting €12 by reservation at 339 4703606
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in cooperation with the Romagna wine consortium
Acervum
7.30 p.m.
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the saltpan: cocktails, beer and chopping boards
Acervum
8.30 p.m.
Four-hands dinner with the Locanda kitchen of chef Domenico Magnifico and the Bolognese chef from Castiglione dei Pepoli Lucia Antonelli ‘the queen of tortellini’.
The dinner celebrates 20 years of Artisanal Salt from the Camillone Saltpan, a Slow Food Presidium since 2004, and the twinning between the Cervia Saltpan and the Bologna-based Mutua Salsamentari
For more information about the event
Sapore di Sale
Thursday 5 September
Tower Salt Warehouse
5.00 p.m.
Grazia Deledda between the sea and the salt marsh
Presentation of the book ‘Grazia Deledda in Cervia. Voices from the sea and the wind’ - Longo editore, with editor Marisa Ostolani and the authors, poems in Romagna dialect by Annalisa Teodorani and Deleddian readings by Annalisa Santini.
Exhibition of photos by Michela Mazzoli and Giovanna Sarti. In collaboration with the Grazia Deledda Association, a Nobel in Cervia
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in collaboration with the Romagna wine consortium
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.15 p.m.
Tasting of Bufala Campana mozzarella with sweet Cervia salt
of the Don Peppe Diana Cooperative. Even with taste you can defeat the mafias, with Libera Terra products.
Places are limited and must be booked in advance at 339 4703606
Porto Canale and Piazzale dei Salinari
7.00 p.m.
Official opening of the Festival with the historic boat I Tre Fratelli, and the story of the traditional Salt Festival, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the mayor Mattia Missiroli
Tower Salt Warehouse
7.15 p.m.
Preview of the Cervia Sweet Salt Panettone
Presentation and preview tasting of the Christmas Panettone al Sale Dolce di Cervia, by Pasticceria Flamigni for the Parco della Salina di Cervia. Conducted by Letizia Magnani, communication manager of the Cervia Saltpan Park. Speakers: Camillo Serena, Flamigni sales manager, Mirko Boschetti councillor for Productive Activities Cervia, Giuseppe Pomicetti president of the Cervia Saltpan Park
Limited places upon booking at 339 4703606
Acervum
7.30 pm
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the saltpan: cocktails, beer and Sweet Salt of Cervia chopping boards
Officine del Sale
8.45 p.m.
Inaugural dinner with Romagna meeting Sardinian cuisine
Preparations by ‘CheftoChef’ and Dimitri Contessi, chef of the Officine del Sale restaurant. In collaboration with Cheftochef
Booking required tel: 0544 976565 - 393 8241077
Tower Salt Warehouse
9.00 p.m.
Acquadulcis
Inauguration of the photographic exhibition Aquadulcis, the finalist photographic project of the Portfolio Italia 2024 award. Curated by Luana Viaggi
Friday 6 September
Tower Salt Warehouse
10.15 a.m.
Scholarship to the two best students of Cervia's ‘Tonino Guerra’ Hotelier Institute, awarded by the Salt Civilisation Group
Tower Salt Warehouse
10.30 a.m.
Agriculture cultivates salt
Presentation of the project to promote salt farming. Organised by Confagricoltura in collaboration with the Cervia Saltpan Park
Tower Salt Warehouse
5.00 p.m.
Delta Park: salt and marinated fish have allied themselves
A convivial reflection to make peace with the sea and nature. Led by Barbara Monti, president of Slow Food Ravenna. With Massimiliano Costa, Director of the Po Delta Park and Francesco Martina, Slow Food Ferrara. In collaboration with Po Delta Park. Followed by fish tastings from the Manifattura dei Marinati of Comacchio.
Places are limited and must be booked in advance on 339 4703606
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in cooperation with the Romagna wine consortium
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.30 p.m.
From Nuoro to Cervia the Deleddian Menus. From writing to the table with a Deleddian dinner.
At the Cervia Salt Festival, the Menu Deleddiani association is the voice of Sardinia and Grazia Deledda, the only Italian woman to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. In addition to being an extraordinary writer and narrator of immortal stories, Grazia Deledda left a legacy of great importance. The Menù Deleddiano (Deledda's Menu) project aims to enhance, promote, and disseminate those precious contents enshrined in her texts, becoming an interpreter of points of view on everyday life and healthy existence, with a focus on good food. And Cervia is certainly the ideal place because the writer chose it for her summers, where she bought her home, Villa Caravella, the ‘biscuit-coloured house’, her beloved Cervia refuge. This is followed by a presentation with workshop, show cooking and tasting of Deleddian dishes prepared by the association, such as Filindeu, suckling pig, sheep and other Sardinian dishes. Vincenzo Palimodde, Tonina Biscu and Vitalia Scano of the Menu Deleddiani association will lead the meeting. The event is also being held in collaboration with the Associazione Grazia Deledda, a Nobel Prize winner in Cervia.
Limited places € 65 per person, including book, dinner and drinks. Reservations required. 339 4703606
Acervum
7.30 p.m.
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the salt marsh: cocktails, beer and Sweet Salt of Cervia boards, accompanied by Santero's solidarity bubbles
Rubicon Hall
8.45 p.m.
La Cavèda de Sèl
Inauguration of the photographic exhibition La Cavèda de Sèl, dedicated to the harvesting of salt and everything that surrounds the saltpan.
Saturday 7 September
Piazzale dei Salinari
8.00 a.m.
‘Romagna Solatia, sweet country...’
Departure from Cervia of the bicycle relay race in collaboration with Divina CicloStorica Fiab Ravenna, with a load of salt as far as Bologna, taking up the ancient route of the salt wokers who brought salt to the butchers of Bologna as early as 1242. Arrival in Bologna on the day dedicated to ‘Romagna Solatia’ with Il Mercato Ritrovato del mondo contadino held at the Cineteca di Bologna. Here, the presentation of the Camillone Saltworks and the Slow Food Presidium Salt takes place.
Cervia Spa
3.00 p.m.
Guided tour and cocktail at the Sweet Salt of Cervia
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 3.00 p.m.
Postal cancellation for the Armesa de Sel
Canal Harbour and Piazzale dei Salinari quay
from 4.30 p.m.
‘Armesa de Sel’
Traditional historical re-enactment of the Salt Storehouse with the arrival of the Burchiella from the salt pans and the ritual distribution of salt to the public.
Tower Salt Warehouse
5.00 p.m.
The BIO Capers of Mezzano meet the Sweet Salt, new products for tasting. Participants: Alberto Allegri producer of the Organic Caper of Mezzano, Giuseppe Pomicetti President of Parco della Salina di Cervia S.r.l., Gianni Grandu Deputy Mayor of Cervia, conducted by Letizia Magnani Communication Manager Salina di Cervia
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in cooperation with the Romagna wine consortium
Tower Salt Warehouser
6.30 p.m.
Trapani: salt pans, tuna in oil and the decomposed Sicilian cannolo
Prepared by chef Paolo Pecorella. Conducted by Giuseppe Carpinteri president of the Associazione Salviamo i Mulini di Trapani
Places are limited. Reservations required 339 4703606
Tower Salt Warehouse
7.30 p.m.
The Salt Pans of Sardinia of Sant'Antioco and Contivecchi of Cagliari
Presented by Raimondo Mandis, President of Slow Food Cagliari. Followed by tastings of Sardinian products made with salt from the salt pans of their territories
Acervum
7.30 p.m.
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the salt marsh: cocktails, beer and Sweet Salt of Cervia chopping boards, accompanied by Santero's solidarity bubbles.
Piazza Garraldi
9.00 p.m.
‘Fire to the Myth’
The traditional cooking of a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese live, in collaboration with the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium
Sunday 8 September
10.30 a.m.
Heritage walk. Organised by Associazione Festa
11.00 a.m.
From Bologna to Cervia Piazzale dei Salinari
The Società di Mutuo Soccorso tra Salsamentari di Bologna, one of the oldest associations in Italy that brings together the city's most important gastronomic realities, symbolically brings the products of the Tagliere dei Salsamentari to Cervia, first and foremost mortadella, along the Via del Sale (Salt Road), to spend a day at the Cervia Festival welcoming Bologna ‘La Grassa’, the cradle of good food and good taste with the products of Petronian culinary tradition. Loris Marcheselli's Food Truk ‘Bar Stellino’ offers four products from the Tagliere dei Salsamentari (DE.CO): mortadella, tigella, squacquerone and friggione.
Canal Harbour and Piazzale dei Salinari quay
from 3.30 p.m.
‘Armesa de Sel’
Replica of the traditional historical re-enactment of the Rimessa del Sale (salt warehouse) with the ritual distribution of salt to the public.
Tower Salt Warehouse
from 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Gastronomic Workshops dedicated to Bolognese Gastronomy
5.00 p.m. - I Tortellini della Ristoassociation Tour-tlen di Bologna, in Brodo (DECO). Conducted by Lucia Antonelli ‘the Queen of Tortellini’.
6.15 p.m. - Tagliatelle and the real Bolognese ragù (DE.CO) with the association Gli Apostoli della Tagliatella di Bologna. Led by Lucia Antonelli with a representative of the Apostles of Tagliatella from Bologna
7.30 p.m. - Meeting with Bologna Mortadella man Davide Simoni President of Mutua Salsamentari 1876 and famous charcuterie maker in the Bologna quadrilateral who introduces us to the world of Mortadella with an unmissable lesson. The three workshops will be accompanied by wines from the Consorzio Vini Colli Bolognesi. Some of the Consorzio's cellars will be present all day with tables for wine tasting and sale.
Limited places, max 30 people. Each tasting €12 by reservation at 339 4703606
Portocanale quay in front of the Tower Salt Warehouse
from 6.00 p.m.
Tasting of wines from the Romagna territory
Organised by AIS Romagna in cooperation with the Romagna wine consortium
Acervum
7.30 p.m.
Salt-flavoured sunset in the heart of the saltpan: cocktails, beer and chopping boards
Acervum
8.30 p.m.
Four-hands dinner with the Locanda kitchen of chef Domenico Magnifico and the Bolognese chef from Castiglione dei Pepoli Lucia Antonelli ‘the queen of tortellini’.
The dinner celebrates 20 years of Artisanal Salt from the Camillone Saltpan, a Slow Food Presidium since 2004, and the twinning between the Cervia Saltpan and the Bologna-based Mutua Salsamentari
For more information about the event
Sapore di Sale
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